The 2025 SEAOSC Leadership Symposium, curated by the WiSE Committee, brought together industry professionals on March 12 for a day of insightful discussions on leadership, workforce empowerment, and inclusivity in the AEC sector. The event featured a keynote presentation from the former President of Disney Imagineering, Barbara Souza, and panel discussions among established AEC professionals aimed at fostering professional growth and creating a stronger, more inclusive industry.

Opening Keynote: Memorable Experiences—Value the Moment

Barbara Bouza, FAIA, former president of Walt Disney Imagineering, opened the symposium with a keynote on "Memorable Experiences – Value the Moment." Drawing from her experiences at Gensler and Disney, she emphasized the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and adaptability in leadership.

“There are always going to be down points, and how you show up in times of challenges really teaches you what you can do,” Barbara remarked. She urged professionals at all levels to recognize their value, stating, “The only difference someone with 30 years of experience has over you is that they have 30 years of experience. It doesn’t mean your points of view and values don't matter.”

Fireside Chat: Elevating Female and Underrepresented Leadership in the AEC Industry (sponsored by Brandow & Johnston)

A fireside chat with Annie Kao, PE, and Juliana Burke, PE, titled "Elevating Female and Underrepresented Leadership in the AEC Industry," addressed the challenges of navigating spaces where one doesn’t always feel they belong. The discussion highlighted the importance of representation, mentorship, and relationship-building in leadership development.

Annie emphasized stepping outside of comfort zones, embracing opportunities, and challenging self-doubt with the question, "Why not?" Annie and Juliana emphasized that discomfort in unfamiliar environments is inevitable, but perseverance and relationship-building can help foster success. Annie highlighted the power of one-on-one connections, showing how small, intentional interactions can create a more inclusive culture.

Lean, Lift and Thrive: Empowering Women Together

This panel discussion featured industry leaders Michelle Kam-Biron, SE, F. SEAOC; Amber Freund, PE; Elizabeth Mahlow, PE; Traci Petcoff Wong, PE; and Minye Pak, SE. The panelists shared how Lean In Circles—small, supportive groups—helped them navigate career challenges, build confidence, and uplift each other.

Inspired by Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In, the idea behind a Lean In Circe is to create an environment to be supportive and confidential within a small diverse group. Their message was clear: embrace vulnerability, use available resources, and advocate for those whose voices need to be heard.

Strategic Networking and Professional Development

Jahida Nadi of Hilti North America led a workshop on how uniqueness helps us improve, where participants identified three of their personal “superpowers” and three areas for improvement. By surrounding themselves with mentors who excel in areas they seek to develop, attendees learned how to leverage diverse perspectives for professional growth.

“Someone else’s superpower can be your next goal,” Nadi advised, underscoring the power of intentional networking and collaboration.

Building a Safe and Respectful Workplace

Dolores Leal, JD, of Allred, Maroko & Goldberg, led an important discussion on “Building a Safe and Respectful Workplace.” Specializing in sexual harassment, employment discrimination, and wrongful termination cases, she outlined the five types of harassment defined under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964—race, color, religion, nationality, and sex—and shared key statistics and real-world examples.

Key takeaways included documenting incidents, understanding legal protections, and implementing proactive leadership strategies to ensure a culture of accountability and inclusion. Dolores also emphasized the role of both employees and employers in fostering respectful workplaces.

Empowering Your Workforce: Actionable Steps for Engagement and Retention

In the afternoon, Natalie Tse, SE, LEED AP of Tipping, and Claire Leader of Martin/Martin led a discussion on workforce engagement and retention. With only 10% of senior positions in structural engineering being held by women, the session highlighted the urgent need for better workplace policies.

Key strategies included fostering psychological safety, clear communication, and supportive leadership. “What costs little but earns a lot?” the speakers posed—suggesting that small changes, such as setting boundaries, taking PTO, and connecting beyond work, can significantly improve employee retention and well-being.

Closing Panel: Employee Retention & Engagement

Closing out this year’s Leadership Symposium, Kimberly Guzman of Buehler Engineering led a discussion on Employee Retention & Engagement with panelists Matthew Barnard, SE, of Degenkolb Engineers, Molly Pobiel, PE of SGH, Claire Leader, and Natalie Tse, SE, LEED AP.

The conversation tackled challenges for engineers navigating their early careers, emphasizing the importance of work-life balance, self-advocacy, and empathy in the workplace. Natalie highlighted the need to give yourself grace and ask for company-provided resources, while Molly reminded attendees that taking time for yourself ultimately benefits both the employee and the firm. Matt stressed the importance of understanding that everyone’s balance looks different and practicing empathy for others’ choices.

The panel also discussed how organizations can foster a supportive culture, from building connections outside the firm to creating spaces where both employees and leadership can be vulnerable. Companies that recognize and appreciate their employees see better engagement, stronger retention, and long-term success.

Addressing high stress and low compensation, the panel encouraged engineers to advocate for their value, communicate effectively with clients, and work towards licensure to elevate the profession. Matt summed it up emphasizing that what we do is built on integrity and trust—that will help the value of our work shine through.

The SEAOSC Leadership Symposium underscored the importance of embracing challenges, fostering inclusion, and taking actionable steps toward workforce engagement and leadership growth. As the industry evolves, these insights serve as a guiding framework for professionals striving to create a stronger, more equitable future in the AEC community.